Financial services and real estate, top capital increases

Financial services and the real estate sector were the main fields where foreign-held companies conducted capital increases in May, with the overall value of these contributions topping 37m euros, according to data released by the National Trade Registry Office (ONRC).
In May, capital increases worth more than 1m euros reached 67.5m euros, down 65% against the same month last year.
From the total volume of capital increases worth more than 1m euros, over half were contributions from banks, insurance companies or firms operating in real estate.
The top two positions in the ranking of the largest capital increased operated this May are both held by institutions in the financial-banking sector.
The largest capital increase was operated by Romexterra Bank, whose majority shareholder, Hungary’s MKB, contributed 8.7m euros towards the bank’s capital.
The same amount, 8m euros, was added to the capital of BRF Finance, the consumer lending arm of BRD SocGen.
In the insurance sector, ING Fond de Pensii conducted the biggest foreign contribution to capital, namely 6.3m euros, in May. Next came Fiba Asigurari, part of Fiba Turkish financial group, whose share capital was boosted by 3.4m euros.
Regarding the real estate segment, 3 companies with majority shareholders from Spain and Italy boosted their capital by over 7m euros. Eusma Rom Buildin, with a Spanish majority shareholder, witnessed a foreign capital injection of 3.4m euros, Fonteroma Real Estate, an Italian-held firm, increased its capital by 2.5m euros and Gran Via Renta, also Spanish, saw its capital rise by 1.3m euros.
Carpatcement Holding, the domestic unit of HeidelbergCement group, also saw one of the biggest capital contributions, of 8.1m euros.
Against May 2006, foreign investments worth above 1m euros were down by 65%, although 4 capital increases of above 10m euros were operated in 2006. The biggest capital increase in May 2006 was conducted by Renault Mecanique, which received a 34.6m-euro contribution.
The auto parts industry saw further capital increases in May. As a result, Barum Automotive contributed 1.4m euros to Timisoara and Spain’s Mapsa brought 1.05m euros to Cluj.
According to ONRC data, the value of foreign capital subscribed in the first five months of this year exceeded 890m euros, double the level registered in the same month of 2006, when the level of foreign investments hit 410m euros. In May, capital increases for foreign held companies amounted to 92m euros, down 16% against the same month in 2006.
Capital subscriptions in foreign held firms are an item taken into consideration when gauging the level of foreign direct investments. Other items taken into consideration include loans granted by foreign firms to domestic units and also companies’ reinvested profit.

Capital increases in May
Financial services and the real estate sector were the main domains where foreign-held companies operated capital increases in May
The overall value of these operations topped 37m euros
Capital increases worth over 1m euros reached 67.5m euros in May, down 65% on last year
In May capital increases of foreign held companies amounted to 92m euros, down 16% against the same month in 2006